Swimming Options Range from No-Frills to Deluxe

While the city mulls swimmers for access to the municipal pool once it takes over the facility this summer, Piedmont lap swimmers have other options to consider. Around Piedmont, there are high-quality swimming facilities to meet every budget, from a $3 visit to a $183-a-month club membership.

Temescal Pool, located at Oakland Technical High School at 371 - 45th St., Oakland, offers swimming lessons, team practice, water aerobics and recreational swimming. Lap swims cost $5 for adults and $3 for seniors. Packages of 10 lap swims can be purchased with a savings of $10 and $9 respectively. The pool is available for lap swimming every weekday at designated times in the morning, afternoon and evening. Lap swimming is also available from 11 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. on weekends.

The Downtown Oakland YMCA, 2350 Broadway, Oakland, offers a wide variety of activities, including aerobics, yoga, gym equipment, basketball, swimming lessons, day camps and more. A membership is required for lap swimming at its seven-lane, 25-meter heated indoor pool. A membership costs $69 for a single adult and $116 for a family with children under 12; it’s an additional $15 for each teenager. There’s also a one-time fee of $75 for all memberships. Lap swimming and walking lanes are open during all pool hours, though the number of lanes vary depending on whether other programs are scheduled. The pool is open every day from morning until night.

The Roberts Pool at the 82-acre Roberts Regional Recreation Area, 10570 Skyline Blvd., Oakland, offers a 25-yard heated swimming pool with a depth of 3 feet to 8.5 feet, but does not have a diving board. Lap swimming costs $3.50 a visit or $25 for 10 visits. Recreational swimming is $3 for adults 16 and over, or $2 for children under 16 or adults over 62. Parking costs $5. Lap swimming is offered from 7:15 until 8:15 p.m. Monday through Thursday starting June 20 until Aug. 26. The pool is available for private rentals and is open for recreational swimming on weekends and holidays until Sept. 9 and on weekdays beginning June 18 until late August.

The Trefethen Aquatic Center at Mills College in Oakland offers lap swimming for $7 to the general public or $5 for alumni. Annual passes cost $300, a semester pass is $150 and ten swims can be purchased for $56. The aquatic center is open year-round to the public with a hot tub and an outdoor pool that’s “big and beautiful,” said Natoria Coleman, a senior guard at the pool. Lap swimming is available every day at designated times in the morning, afternoon and evening, with additional hours beginning in June.

The Montclair Swim Club is located in a wooded, secluded area in the Oakland hills at 1901 Woodhaven Way. The club offers a giant, outdoor heated swimming facility with seven lanes dedicated to lap swimming. “It’s a nice outdoor experience in a heated pool,” said pool caretaker Brian Sullivan.  There's a $1,500 initation fee for a single membership and $3,000 for a family membership, with monthly dues ranging from $131 for singles to $172 for families. The club also offers a hot tub, small gym and massage room.

The Oakland Hills Tennis Club, 5475 Redwood Rd., offers a “resort-like" atmosphere with a three-bridge view and a 75-foot-long outdoor, heated pool. The pool is open every day but there are no designated lanes for lap swimming. To join the athletic club, there’s a one-time membership fee of $1,500, with additional monthly dues ranging from $113 for an individual to $183 for families. It costs more per month to use the club’s 10 outdoor, lighted tennis courts. The club also offers a hot tub, gym equipment, aerobic classes, massage and more.